Exemplary film making

Rating: 10/10 (19 January 2005)

Dawn of the Dead, The Omega Man, Night of the Living Dead. They all pale in comparison.
This film should be shown to every student studying Film as an example of how it is done. Full stop.
Some of the shots and camera angles are genuinely thrilling. The whole film could be played out as a series of still frames with no sound as each shot is fresh, imaginative and tells us a little bit more about the story, the characters or the situation.
Although it may sound as if the whole film is based on superficial shots that are there to please the eye, it is certainly not the case. It is impossible to point out any aspect of the film that is a let down.
The acting is real quality, Cillian Murphy gives an utterly convincing performance as Jim who is trying to come to terms with the situation he finds himself in, making even the line, "Hello", memorable! Naomie Harris puts in a real composed and confident turn. But the man who really stands out in this film for me is Brendan Gleeson, he really is a cracking actor, he plays 'Frank' with so much warmth that you genuinely care for him. The three characters (and the actors) along with Frank's daughter really work well together.
The sound is amazing, the accurate choice of music for each scene can be compared to that of "The Shining". The quality of the overall sound (music and effects) are top notch.
Overall, the film is an unbelievable example of sheer quality coming together to create a film that, over time, will prove to be legendary. It may not be original but it doesn't need to be.
Exemplary. Watch it.